Top doctor is banned from practicing for three months following secret hearing over his ‘risky’ treatment of his friend

• Edward Tuddenham repeatedly prescribed medication for close female friend
• Tribunal said his ‘dishonest’ behaviour put the woman’s life at risk 
• 79-year-old told investigators he was ‘totally disgusted and ashamed of himself’

One of Britain’s most eminent haematologists has been banned from practising as a doctor for three months after a disciplinary hearing held in secret.

Prof Edward Tuddenham was found to have repeatedly prescribed medication to a woman with whom he had a ‘close personal relationship’.

During his 55-year career, he is credited with revolutionising treatment of the blood condition. But a tribunal said his ‘dishonest’ behaviour put the woman’s life at risk due to his ‘persistent breaches’ of the ‘fundamental tenets’ of the profession.

Prof Tuddenham, 79, told investigators he was ‘totally disgusted and ashamed of himself’, later admitting he was guilty of ‘a very bad example of misuse of power’.

But the medication he prescribed, the condition she had and the nature of her relationship with the married doctor remain veiled in secrecy as his lawyer asked for the hearing to take place behind closed doors.

Prof Edward Tuddenham was found to have repeatedly prescribed medication to a woman with whom he had a ‘close personal relationship’

This was allowed by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service, despite its ‘default position’ that hearings should be in public.

It has released a heavily redacted 28-page document setting out its findings against Prof Tuddenham, who is Emeritus professor of haemophilia at Royal Free London Hospital and gave evidence at the public inquiry into the infected blood scandal.

It said the woman – called only Patient A – was seeing a GP after she was diagnosed with ‘XXX’. She wanted more of one medicine than her GP would give so bought some online. But in 2016, said the panel, she asked the professor to write a prescription when she ran out, without the GP knowing. ‘He said that he reluctantly agreed, believing it would be a ‘one-off’.’

But this ended up being monthly and over four or five years he wrote around 50 prescriptions, each for 28 tablets.

In 2021, after suffering black-outs Patient A was admitted to hospital where a consultant became concerned at the medicines she was taking and the professor was reported to the General Medical Council.

Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust said he was no longer an employee.

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